Mike Greenwell, a two-time All-Star outfielder who appeared in elements of 12 big-league seasons, died on Thursday, the Boston Pink Sox introduced. Greenwell, who revealed in August that he had been identified with medullary thyroid most cancers, was 62 years outdated.
Greenwell was initially drafted as a third-rounder in 1982 out of North Fort Myers Excessive College in Florida. He went on to spend the whole thing of his U.S. skilled profession with the Pink Sox, together with elements of 12 seasons within the majors.
Over these 12 seasons, Greenwell batted .303/.368/.463 (121 OPS+) with 130 house runs, 1,400 hits, and an estimated profession Wins Above Substitute whole of 25.8, in line with Baseball Reference’s calculations. The latter determine ranks twenty eighth in Pink Sox franchise historical past amongst place gamers. He additionally earned a pair of All-Star choices and was runner-up within the American League Most Precious Participant Award vote in 1988.
Greenwell would share that in his first All-Star Sport look, in 1988, he made a degree of shadowing and observing Kansas Metropolis Royals legend George Brett. Brett would ultimately toss him a can of chewing tobacco as a memento.
“I’ve nonetheless bought the can,” Greenwell stated in an interview with Baseball Digest. “I am simply going to put it aside. No person is aware of what it’s however me.”
Following an injury-riddled season in 1996 and a dispute with then normal supervisor Dan Duquette, Greenwell signed to play in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers. Nevertheless, continued harm issues restricted the 33-year-old Greenwell to only seven video games performed for Hanshin. At that time, he retired as a participant.
Greenwell would go on to function a coach. He additionally loved a stint within the NASCAR Truck Sequence. In keeping with DriverAverages, he raced twice in 2006.
